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ELKHORN -- Eight people have been arrested in the last two weeks in Walworth County in connection to string of heroin sales in the Lake Geneva and Delavan areas, according to Walworth County Sheriff's Office news releases.

The arrests came after about a month of investigation, but deputies "knew they were doing it longer than that," Walworth County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Jeff Patek said.

On Feb. 11, Jamaal T. Shellie, 33, of Waukegan, Ill. was charged with seven felony counts of delivery of heroin as a second or subsequent offense, according to an earlier Walworth County District Attorney's Office release.

Shellie, also called "Major" by those he worked with, according to criminal complaints, was arrested Feb. 7 in a Lake Geneva hotel on charges of party to the crime of delivery of heroin and six counts of delivery of heroin, according to one release.

Shellie is described as the leader of the group and had other people drive him around to sell heroin, one sheriff's office news release states.

In a criminal complaint one suspect claims Shellie sold heroin "all day, all night, seven days a week."

After Shellie was arrested, another person filled his shoes, one release states.

Using an undercover officer, the drug unit purchased heroin from other suspects, according to one release.

Getting these suspects off the streets could have an effect on the amount of heroin circulating in Walworth County.

The arrests are "very significant with the amount of heroin this group was selling in the Lake Geneva and Delavan area," Patek said.

The arrests are not related to the Walworth County District Attorney's Office's recent declaration to focus on getting heroin and its dealers off the streets, District Attorney Daniel Necci said.

The following people were arrested Feb. 10, 12, or 13:

-- Matthew Brown, 31, Waukegan, Ill., arrested in a vehicle in Lake Geneva on two counts of delivery of heroin, according to a release. Brown is due in Walworth County Court at 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28.

-- Ernest F. Green, 29, Waukegan, Ill., arrested in a vehicle in Lake Geneva on two counts of party delivery of cocaine and one count of party to delivery of heroin. Green is due in Walworth County Court at 1:15 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26.

-- Ashley J. Keller, 27, of 606 Haskins St., Lake Geneva, arrested at her residence on five counts of delivery of cocaine and one count party to delivery of heroin. Keller is due in Walworth County Court at 1:15 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27.

-- Trisha J. Mohr, 34, of 1303 Wall St., Delavan, arrested at a Lake Geneva motel on two counts of party to delivery of heroin. Mohr drove Shellie to sell heroin to a confidential informant on at least two occasions in January, according to a criminal complaint. Mohr is due in Walworth County Court at 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28.

-- Brian W. Zitzler, 33, of 1303 Wall St., Delavan, arrested at his place of employment on charges of conspiracy to delivery of heroin, party to delivery of heroin, and possession of suboxone, according to a release. Zitzler is due in Walworth County Court at 1:15 p.m. Thursday, March 6.

Arrested with Shellie on Feb. 7 were:

-- Jacob LA Crews, 24, of 919 George St., Lake Geneva, arrested in his vehicle on charges of party to delivery of heroin, possession of heroin and possession of drug paraphernalia. Crews is due in Walworth County Court at 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21.

-- Christina M. Lavender, 28, of 4119 Spruce St., Delavan, arrested in her vehicle in Lake Geneva on charges of delivery of heroin as second and subsequent offense and party to delivery of heroin near a school as a second or subsequent offense. Lavender sold heroin to a confidential informant in January and drove Shellie to a property adjoining Elkhorn Area High School to sell heroin to a confidential informant in January, according to a criminal complaint. Lavender is due in Walworth County Court at 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24.